Engraving machine



Nov. 29, 1955 M. MICH 2,724,896

ENGRAVING MACHINE Filed Oct. 2l, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l Nov. 29, 1955 M. MICH 2,724,896

ENGRAVING MACHINE Filed Oct. 2l, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent 2,724,896 r`YENGRAVINGivrArcinNE .Maurice 'Mich, zChicago, .-Ill., .assigner to Simplex Indus" tries, Inc., Chicago, Ill., a .corporation of illinois Application 0ctober`2'1, '1952, -Serial-Nn. 316,011

`1 Claim. ,(Cl. 33-25) =Myfinvention relates toa machine lfor engraving letters, insignia `or yother markings on .articlesfof jewelry or -other objects. My device utilizes a pantograph leverage in .combination with letter tracing guiding means `and an .electrically operated .cutting tool to reproduce the desired markings.

It is among the objectsofrmy invention to provide such a device which is `so simple and eicient in-operation and construction .that it may be operated by a person lwho is substantially-unskilled and untaught in the art of engraving. For example, a girlemployed in a department store may become proficient in the operation of my device in a very-short time and thereafter will be capable of quickly and easily lettering `or marking any object.

Itlis a further object-of myinvention -to .provide such-a device .in which kno separate type letters are used land in which the user is not required toset type before operating the device.

Another object of my invention is 'to provide lsuch a device in vwhich the cutting tool is lmoved into cutting position through the force of gravity operating on iits Jown mass and in which `the movement of the cutting tool into cutting position is controlled independently of the operation of the tracing stylus.

Yet another object of my invention is to provide a work holder which is adjustable so that engraving may be performedon an object of almost any shape, `with'the engraving positioned at any desiredplace or angle on the object.

.'It is also among the objects of my invention to provide such a device which is so economical in construction and use that it may be sold at a low price .in order `to :make the benefits and enjoyment of engraving available to the generalpublic at a substantially .negligible cost.

My invention also comprises such otherobjects, advantages and capabilities as will later more fully appear `and which are inherently possessed .by my invention.

While I have shown in the accompanying .drawings a preferred embodiment Lof my invention, yet it is to be understood .that lthe same is susceptible of Vmodification without departing from the spirit of my invention.

,Referring Ato the drawings, Fig. 1 yis a top plan view'of my engraving machine with the cutting tool and housing rem0ved;.Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of my engraving machine; Fig. 3 is a top plan view of a portionof my letter slide assembly; Fig. 4 is a top plan view of oneof my cards; Fig. 5 is an end view of my slide holder and letter .slide;Fig. 6 is a side elevational view of my engraving machine; Fig. 7 is a top plan -view of Amy engraving machine with the cutting tool and housing removed and the pantograph leverage shown in dotted lines; Fig. 8 is a detailed sectional view of my adjustable vise taken on line 8 8 of Fig. 7; Fig. 9 is an enlarged View of .the groove forming one letter on my letter slide, with the stylus and its path shown therein; Fig. 10'is a detailed sectional view of the same, taken on line 10-10 of Fig. 9; Fig. "11 is an enlarged view of my hand release and Fig. 12 is'anenlarged partial view of my leaf spring.

The embodiment 'selected to illustrate my invention ICC f2 comprises a body member 10, which is preferably formed of metal. Body member y10 comprises a .at -base 11 having fourlegs 1-2 at each of its corners. :Each Iofflegs 12 has `beneath Yit a hemispherical rubber member y18 so `that .my device may be placed on Aa table for other sinished ysurface without .marring or `de'facing Ait.

Extending upwardlyI from the front of base .1-1 -at the .opposite sides thereof yare -a .pair of Vupright members .'14 fand 15. .Mounted thereon isa slide holder .-1f6. `Slida-bhl .mountedin 4slide holder -16 is an elongated letter fsli'de .11, which has cut therein a plurality of grooves forming a vseries of letters or markings. The lmarkings .on .letter slide .1.7 .are used as guides in `the operation ofrnyrdevice and .it is therefore preferable .-i-f they are so forme'd that .eachletter or marking can ybecompletely traced y.without lremoving the tracing stylus v.from -the .'grooves.

Extending horizontally across slide -holder 16Pfrom :lend vto end, .adjacent-the top of .-letterfslide 17 fis xaicontinuous series of small .round openings 18, -which -arerspacedf7/4" apart :from each other. Extending horizontally across ythe center .part of Vslide :holder .16, adjacent the ,bottom-,of .letter `slide 17, :is a letter guide 19, which is attached tto slide holder 16. yLetterguide 19 '(as shown Yin .Figure 7;) has thereon .graduations extending `from -a 'central zero point to.20 on each side ofthe zero point. These gradu .ationsare spaced 7/32" `apart and the -spaces betweenath main graduations are vsubdivided Yinto halves.

.Letter slide 1f] .is ,provided lwith -a .series =of vertical lines 20 which are positioned .beneath Vthe center Tof each of `lthe .letters ,or markings it'hereon. :In ithe v embodiment shown in the drawings, `the fletters on letter `slide .117 .are spaced .7/16apart and are 3%" high. .It `is,possib1e,vhow ever, gto use .letters of vany .greater width Aorof any :lesser widthdownfto 'M4 of that size. .It -isalso gpossible to.use any .height of .letters which is desired.

l.Attached tothe center and adjacent -theends-o.letter slide 1.7 at .the .top thereof are three .blocks 21, .-22 aand 23. '.Each-.of said blocks Ahas a hole therein. .Extending through said holes and rotatably .mounted .therein .is a :rod- 24, `one -end of which is bent at za `right :angle to v`formla lever 215. Fixedly attached .to rod 24.adjacent.said .blocks are Ithree stop 4members .2.6, 27 .and y28. Each. of .said stop -members comprises ya body ,portion :and .fa `downf wardly yextending roundpin .portion adapted to iit within the round openings 18 in slide holder 16. A leaf spring h29 'has one end attached to 1letter slide 17 and its opposite end "bearing downwardly .on vthe top .of stop member 2'7 to hold said .stop member in a normally downwardposition, 'with its pin `portieri extending into one of round openings "18 in slide holder `16.

lWhen lever 25 of `rod 24 :is moved towardtheus'er, "it causes rod v24 -to rotate, vlifting stop vmember 27 against the pressure of leaf spring 29. Stop members 26and"2-8, which are also attached 'to 4rod 24, -areraised simultan# ously. A post 30 extends upwardly from letter slide 217 adjacent lever 25. Post 30 *serves as a stop to 1limit fthe movement'of lever 25 and the rotation ofrod 24.. :Using the :iingers, vthe operator may squeeze lever 25 against post 3.0110 free thepin portionsfof 'stop membersf26,-27 --and 28 from round` openings 18 and =then exert horizontalpressure .on lever 25 and post .30 .to move letter `slidelfl iin either direction along slide holder 16. I

A plurality of yprinted cards 31, whichare Apreferably formed of cardboard or paper, are provided 'for use with my device. Card 31 has a plurality of numbered squares thereon, above each of which is an upwardly pointing triangle. 'In kthe operation of my device, a card'3'1'is filled in Aby 4the user with the Word or'sym'bols to be engraved'. One letter or symbol is placed in each ofthe -numbere'tl squares.

Card 31`is then attached over "letterjgui'de V1-9 byclips' or other suitable fastening means. 'The 'positioningof card 31 is aligned with the number of letter guide 19 which corresponds with the number of letters to be engraved. If the engraving is done from left to right, the scale of numbers on letter guide 19 to the left of Zero should be used.

When guide 31 is so positioned, letter slide 17 may be moved by the user in the manner described above so that the vertical line 20 of the letter or symbol marked in the rst numbered square on card 31 is aligned with the point of the triangle above said square. This letter is traced and reproduced and letter slide 17 is then moved so that the vertical line 20 of the next letter or symbol is aligned with the point of the triangle above the second square on card 31. This operation is repeated until the engraving is cornpleted.

The tracing of the letters is accomplished by means of a stylus 32, which is mounted in the end 33 of an arm 34. Stylus 32 has an integral head 35. A coil spring 36 extends around the shank of stylus 32 with one of its ends bearing against the top of end 33 of arm 34 and its other end bearing against the lower surface of head 35.

Coil spring 36 normally exerts upward pressure against head 35, lifting stylus 32 so that it is free from contact with letter slide 17. When a letter is to be traced, head 35 is pressed and held down against the pressure of coil spring 36 and stylus 32 is guided so that its point follows the groove on letter slide 17 which is to be traced.

Arm 34 is attached to a pantograph leverage 37, on which a cutting tool 38 is mounted, the reduction of the leverage being 4 to 1. Cutting tool 38 is an electrically operated vibrator, having on-off switch 39 and an adjusting knob 40 at the top thereof. Adjusting knob 40 controls the depth of the engraving.

Cutting tool 38 is mounted in a housing 41, which is provided with a pair of side brackets 42. One side bracket 42 has an elongated hollow tube 44 iixedly mounted therein. A pair of rods 45 and 46 extend vertically upward from adjacent the sides of arm 47 of pantograph leverage 37. Rod 45 extends slidably through one bracket 42 and rod 46 extends slidably through hollow tube 44.

Extending upwardly from arm 47 is a mounting post 48, to the top of which is attached one end of a leaf spring 49. The other end of leaf spring 49 extends into the sleeve of a hand release 50. Hand release 50 has a U-shaped portion which extends from leaf spring 49 around cutting tool 38 and an integral portion which extends outwardly from the other side of cutting tool 38 and which is adapted to be manually depressed by the user. Leaf spring 49 normally exerts upward pressure on hand release 50, which in turn exerts upward pressure on housing 41 to hold cutting tool 38 in upward position.

Cutting tool 38 is provided with a round ball 51 which is positioned beneath hand release 50 and prevents the removal of cutting tool 38 from housing 41 unless hand release S0 is first separated from leaf spring 49. Beneath round ball 51cutting tool 38 is provided with a metal ring 52 and a circular shaft 53, beneath which is the cutting assembly 54 and cutting point 55.

Arm 47 of pantograph leverage 37 is rotatably attached to another arm 56. An opening is provided through arms 47 and 56 at the point of their junction, through which opening extends shaft 53 of cutting tool 38. Arm 47 is provided at the top of said opening with a circular seat 57, which is adapted to receive and hold metal ring 52 of cutting tool 38.

In the use of my device, cutting tool 38 is turned on and left running during the entire engraving operation. When engraving is to be performed, the user exerts downward pressure on hand release 50. The left hand would normally be used for this, while the right hand is used to guide stylus 32.

Hand release 50 is moved and held in a downward position against the pressure of leaf spring 49. Cutting tool 38 and housing 41 then move downwardly by the operating of gravity until cutting point 55 contacts the object to be engraved.

When the engraving of each letter has been completed, the user removes the left hand from hand release Si) and the pressure of leaf spring 49 lifts cutting tool 38 so that cutting point 55 is no longer in contact with the object to be engraved.

Hollow tube 44 acts as a guide and control to hold cutting tool 38 pointing directly downwardly during the cutting operation. Circular seat 57 provides a perfect fit for metal ring 52 of cutting tool 3S and is used to center cutting tool 38 when it has been removed or replaced.

Arm 56 of pantograph leverage 37 extends rearwardly from its junction with arm 47 and is rotatably attached at its center to arm 58, which extends parallel to arm 47. Arm 56 then continues rearwardly to form a rectangular countenbalance 59 which acts to assure easy and smooth movement of cutting tool 38. Extending upwardly from the hack of base 11 of my device is a mounting bracket 6G, the top of which extends forwardly over base 11. Arm 47 has a rod 61, which extends upwardly and is rotatably mounted in the end of mounting bracket 60. The upper end of rod 6l is provided with screw threading. A pair of hollow metal sleeves 62 and 63 are mounted on rod 61. The topmost sleeve 63 is screw threaded onto rod 61. The entire pantograph leverage 37, including cutting tool 38, may be raised or lowered by the rotation of screw threaded sleeve 63. This adjustment may be used to engrave ohjects of substantial height or thickness.

Mounted on base 11 at the back and left side thereof is an adjustable vise 64. Vise 64 has a bottom track 65, which is positioned on the top of base 11. Attached to the left side of track 65 is a guide plate 66 which extends vertically adjacent the side of track 65 and then horizontally. Mounted on the outer edge of guide plate 66 is a centering guide 67 which contains numerals beginning at l2 and continuing down to 0 and up to l2 again. The portion of guide plate 66 which is adjacent track 65 is provided with a slot 68, which extends for substantially the entire length of guide plate 66.

Slidably mounted on track 65 is a platform 69 which is provided with an integral flange 70, having a screw threaded opening therethrough. A screw 71 having a round head 72 and an outwardly extending arm 73 is mounted in said opening. Screw '71 is so mounted that when arm 73 extends direct.y toward the user, the bottorn of screw 71 bears against the top surface of track 65 and prevents any movement of platform 69. When arm 73 is moved to the right by the user, screw 71 is released from engagement with track 65 and platform 69 may be moved freely along track 65. In this way, it is possible to move vise 64 toward or away from the user and to locate it in any desired position.

A work holder 75 is rotatably mounted on a shaft 74, which extends through the center of platform 69. A lock rod 76 extends through the side platform 69 and is screw threadedly mounted therein, so that its end bears against shaft 74. Lock rod 76 extends outwardly to the left of platform 69 beyond the left edge of guide plate 66. Attached to the outer end of lock rod 76 is a lock control '77, which extends at a right angle from lock rod 76.

The mounting of lock rod 76 is such that when lock control 77 is parallel with base 11 and pointingV toward the user, the end of lock rod 76 bears against shaft 74 and prevents the rotation of Work holder 76. When lock control 77 is moved upwardly, lock rod 76 is rotated away from engagement with shaft 74 and work holder 75 may be rotated. A downwardly extending stop 78. which is attached to the right side of work holder 75 contacts the side of track 65 and prevents any movement of work holder 75 beyond a ninety degree angle.

Work holder 75 has a flat top, divided by a channel 79, which extends for its entire length. A screw threaded shaft 80 is rotatably mounted at the center of channel 79. The screw threading on one side of the mounting is the reverse of that on the other side.

Screw threadedly mounted on shaft 80 are a pair of holding members S1 and 82. Because of the reverse screw threading of shaft 80, its rotation causes holding members 81 and 82 to move simultaneously toward or away from each other. Holding members 81 and 82 are provided with ledges 83 and 84 at the top inside portions thereof. The top surfaces of holding members 81 and 82 are provided with a plurality of holes 85 which extend downwardly for almost the entire depth of the holding members. A plurality of pins S6 are adapted to fit within any of holes 85, in order to hold objects of irregular shape for engraving. Shaft 80 extends outwardly to the front of base 11, where it is provided with a hand knob 87 for easy rotation of shaft 80 and for use in piv oting work holder 75.

An arrow tipped pointer 88 is attached to the left side of work holder 75 and extends outwardly to the edge of centering guide 67. When work holder 75 is moved, pointer 88 moves along the top of guide plate 66 and lock rod 76 moves within slot 68.

If only one line is to be engraved, pointer 88 is set at the numeral on the centering guide 67. If two lines are to be engraved, work holder 75 is moved so that pointer 88 is set at the top numeral 1 for the rst line of engraving and at the bottom numeral 1 for the second line of engraving. Similar settings are 2-02 for three lines of engraving and 3-1-1-3 for four lines of engraving.

Attached to track 65 and extending to the right rear thereof is a metal plate 89 having a slot 90. Mounted within slot 90 and attached to base 11 is a slide 91. Slide 91 has a screw threaded upright portion on which is mounted knurled lock knob 92. When lock knob 92 is turned clockwise as far as possible, its base bears down against the top surface of metal plate 89 and prevents any movement thereof. When lock knob 92 is loosened, metal plate 89 may be moved to the right or left. The movement of metal plate 89 results in the lateral movement of the entire adjustable vise 64.

A positioning guide 93 is mounted on base 11 adjacent the top of metal plate 89. Positioning guide 93 has numerals thereon beginning at 20 at the left edge and continuing down to 1 and up to 20 again. An indicator 94 is attached to the top of metal plate 89, to indicate its movement on positioning guide 93.

In use my adjustable vise 64 may be moved toward or away from the user, to the right or left of the user, and rotated within a 90 angle, in order to place the engraving in any position or angle. Objects may be held between holding members 81 and 82 or between their ledges 83 and 84 or between a plurality of pins 86, which may be placed in any of the holes 85.

Through the use of a plurality of letter slides 17, the type or style of lettering may be varied without stocking different styles of type.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

In an engraving machine, a cutting tool, a housing surrounding said cutting tool, said housing having a pair of side brackets on opposite sides thereof, a hollow tube fixedly mounted in one of said side brackets, a pair of rods extending upwardly from one arm of a pantograph leverage, one of said rods extending through said hollow tube and the other of said rods extending through the opposite side bracket, a mounting post extending upwardly from said arm, a leaf spring having one end attached to said mounting post, a hand release removably attached to the opposite end of said leaf spring, said hand release having a U-shaped portion extending around said cutting tool and an integral portion extending outwardly from the other side of said cutting tool, said U- shaped portion extending beneath and contacting the base of said housing, said leaf spring adapted to normally exert upward pressure on said housing to hold said cutting tool free from contact with the object to be engraved, said hand release adapted upon the exertion of downward manual pressure on the outwardly extending portion thereof to move away from engagement with the base of said housing, to permit said cutting tool to be moved by the force of gravity downwardly to contact the object to be engraved.

References Cited inthe tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 342,159 Woerner et al May 18, 1886 659,761 Pashley Oct. 16, 1900 860,562 Paddack July 16, 1907 1,471,869 Turner Oct. 23, 1923 2,067,867 Taylor Ian. 12, 1937 2,131,323 Huebner Sept. 27, 1938 2,627,658 Green Feb. 10, 1953 OTHER REFERENCES Publication: The Green Engraver, published by Green Instrument Co., 385 Putnam Ave., Cambridge, Massachusetts, received in Patent Oce April 16, 1951. (Copy in 33-25B (pages 1 and 3 only of 4 pages).) 

